East Greta Coal Mining Co. 10 Class Steam Locomotives facts for kids
Quick facts for kids East Greta Coal Mining Co. 10 Class Steam Locomotives |
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Preserved SMR 10 class No.10 in front of the 1981 vintage loco shed at East Greta Junction
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| Built | 1911–1927 |
| Architect | East Greta Coal Mining Co and South Maitland Railways |
| Owner | Dorrigo Steam Railway and Museum Limited; Hunter Valley Training Company Pty Ltd; Port Waratah Coal Services; Richmond Main Museum |
| Official name: 10 Class Steam Locomotives; South Maitland Railway Steam Locomotives | |
| Type | state heritage (movable / collection) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 745 |
| Type | Railway Locomotives & Rolling Stock |
| Category | Transport - Rail |
| Builders | Bayer Peacock, Manchester, England |
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The East Greta Coal Mining Co. 10 Class Steam Locomotives are a special group of old steam trains. They are called "Class 10" and have a unique design (2-8-2 wheel arrangement). These locomotives were built for the East Greta Coal Mining Company and the South Maitland Railways in New South Wales, Australia.
They were made between 1911 and 1927 by a famous company called Beyer, Peacock and Company in Manchester, England. These trains are also known as South Maitland Railway Steam Locomotives. Today, different groups own them, including the Dorrigo Steam Railway and Museum. These locomotives were added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, because they are very important to history.
Contents
The Story of the Class 10 Steam Locomotives
These powerful steam trains were built between 1911 and 1927. The East Greta Coal Mining Company designed them for their private railway system. This railway was in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales.
Later, the South Maitland Railways bought all 14 of these identical locomotives. They were built by Beyer Peacock, a very famous train-making company. These trains were the strongest "tank steam locomotives" ever used in Australia.
They had a 2-8-2 wheel setup and used coal for fuel. These trains worked only on the private railway in the Hunter Valley. They pulled coal, goods, and even passengers from 1911 until 1983. That's when steam trains stopped working there.
After 1983, some of these locomotives moved to the Richmond Vale Railway System. This railway was built in 1853. Steam operations stopped there in 1987. These locomotives are famous around the world. They are the only complete group of steam trains of their kind that still exist today.
What Happened to Them After They Stopped Working?
- June 10, 1983: The South Maitland Railways stopped using steam trains for business. Some locomotives, like No. 19, were kept for use on the Richmond Vale Railway.
- September 1983: Locomotive No. 19 was given to Port Waratah Coal Services. It was put on display, but the salty air near the ocean started to damage it.
- September 22, 1987: The Richmond Vale Railway also stopped using steam trains. Locomotives Nos. 22, 24, 25, and 30 were stored at Hexham. Others, like Nos. 10, 17, 18, 20, 23, 26, 27, 28, and 31, were stored at East Greta Junction.
- 1989: Locomotives Nos. 22, 24, 25, and 30 were given to the Richmond Main Railway Museum. Nos. 10 and 18 were given to the Hunter Valley Training Company. They were meant to stay at East Greta Junction and not be sold.
- Other locomotives (Nos. 17, 20, 23, 26, 27, 28, and 31) were also transferred to the Hunter Valley Training Company. They were to be used for training young apprentices.
- Early 1990: News came out that seven of these locomotives (Nos. 17, 20, 23, 26, 27, 28, and 31) were sold to Chris Richards. The Hunter Valley Training Company moved them outside, waiting for them to be picked up.
- December 11, 1992: After three years outside, Nos. 17 and 20 were moved by train to Rothbury colliery. Chris Richards had bought this place. The other five trains followed by road.
- 1995: No. 19 was moved to Kooragang Island for a clean-up. Young trainees helped make it look good again. It was then put on display where the public couldn't easily see it.
- May 12, 2009: No. 19 moved from Kooragang to the Richmond Main Railway Museum. It joined Nos. 22, 24, 25, and 30 there.
What They Look Like
There were 14 Class 10 steam locomotives in total. Their numbers are 10, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, and 31. They are all "2-8-2 steam tank locomotives." This means they have two small wheels at the front, eight large driving wheels in the middle, and two small wheels at the back.
These locomotives were designed and built by Beyer Peacock and Co. in Manchester, England. This happened between 1911 and 1925. Today, some of these trains are in great shape, while others are in poor condition. Experts suggest that the trains should be taken apart, cleaned, repainted, and stored in a dry, covered place to protect them.
Who Owns Them Now (as of 2012)
Here's where you can find these special locomotives:
Hunter Valley Railway Trust - Rothbury Colliery
- Locomotive No. 17 - Built in 1914 - Worked until December 1983
- Locomotive No. 20 - Built in 1920 - Worked until February 1985
- Locomotive No. 23 - Built in 1921 - Worked until August 1982
- Locomotive No. 26 - Built in 1923 - Worked until July 1983
- Locomotive No. 27 - Built in 1923 - Worked until March 1987
- Locomotive No. 28 - Built in 1923 - Worked until December 1983
- Locomotive No. 31 - Built in 1926 - Worked until June 1984
Richmond Vale Railway Museum
- Locomotive No. 19 - Built in 1915 - Worked until November 1982
- Locomotive No. 22 - Built in 1921 - Worked until September 1987
- Locomotive No. 24 - Built in 1922 - Worked until September 1987
- Locomotive No. 25 - Built in 1923 - Worked until September 1987
- Locomotive No. 30 - Built in 1926 - Worked until September 1987
Hunter Valley Training Company - East Greta Junction
- Locomotive No. 10 - Built in 1912 - Worked until January 1987
- Locomotive No. 18 - Built in 1915 - Worked until December 1984
Why Are They Special? (Heritage Listing)
These locomotives are very important for several reasons. They were part of the very last time steam trains were used for business in Australia. All 14 of these trains, which were the only ones ever built of this design, still exist today. This makes them the only complete group of steam trains in the world to survive entirely!
Their design is also very special and unique. There are no other identical trains like them anywhere else. These locomotives were like the "backbone" of transport and communication in a coal mining area of New South Wales that was quite cut off from other places. They are rare internationally and show what typical coalfield steam trains were like.
The 10 Class Steam Locomotives were added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999. This means they are protected because they meet important standards:
- They show how history unfolded in New South Wales.
* They were the last steam trains used for business in Australia. All 14 of them still exist, which is very rare for a whole class of locomotives.
- They show great technical skill and design.
* Only 14 of these trains were ever built with this specific design. They are very important for their technology. No other trains like them exist anywhere else.
- They have a strong connection to the community.
* They were vital for moving people and goods in a coal mining area of NSW.
- They are rare or endangered.
* These locomotives are considered rare around the world.
- They show important features of their type.
* They are a great example of the kind of steam locomotives used in coal mining areas.
Images for kids
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22 being unloaded after being transported by road from Hexham in July 1989
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24 freshly painted & lined after completion of boiler repairs in May 1993
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25 at Pelaw Main Colliery in 1995
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30 at Pelaw Main in September 2007
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30 at Pelaw Main station, for the 20th anniversary of the Richmond Vale Railway's closure in September 2007
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A Lloyd's/FSM HO Scale 10 Class, modelled on SMR 10 as preserved in 1990, running on Coalfields Model Railway Club's layout 'Ashlington'.
